Sunday, April 1, 2012

Now that everything is in place for the birth of Chocolate Chip I decided to make this Marlie's special week. As a firstborn myself, I understand that there might be feelings of displacement, etc...after siblings arrive. I want to make sure she knows that she is always loved and cared for.

On Tuesday we made healthy banana bread with applesauce, honey, and cocoa powder (thanks for the recipe Kim!). On Wednesday night we had a Girls Night Out. I took her to dinner at our favorite restaurant where we munched on organic burgers and fries. Then we met up with Brandy and little Orlaith to see Disney's Dare to Dream on Ice thanks to the 4 tickets I won in a giveaway at Dallas Single Mom's blog. On Thursday we made robot out of a recycled coffee can---->

I know Disney characters are so un-Montessori, but hear me out. The Disney Princesses Jasmine, Rapunzel and Tiana helped us finally potty train Marlie when nothing else was working. Seriously. She loves Aladdin and Tangled and the Princess and the Frog. I don't mind her watching these Disney movies because the female characters are strong and the movie doesn't end in a grand wedding. Anyways, one day Damon told her that princesses use the potty. I wasn't thrilled about this statement, but I decided to see how it played out. It worked like a miracle. Before, the potty was hit or miss. Something clicked with her after introducing the princess on the potty concept, she wanted to go on the potty. She stopped asking for diapers. She would tell me when she had to go or go by herself. Montessori is still our primary teaching and learning method, but now I see there is room for some of the popular mainstream kid stuff (in moderation).

New Marlie-isms:

"That's not fair!" (after a privilege has been taken away for disobedience)

"That's too scary" (she said this Thursday night after seeing a man with a sleeve of tattoos on his arm)

"I'm so hungry" (is now the first the says when she wakes up)

"I feel much better now" (what she says after she's eaten breakfast)

"I made snakes!" (after making poop in the potty)

"I have peace like a river in my soul" (she is learning something at church)

"Go Mommy Go!" (said when I am using the bathroom or fetching her something)

It was a brilliant week. It's a little after 5:30 am on Sunday morning. I've been having contractions every 8-10 minutes since about 2:00 am. They aren't bad, just intense enough not to be able to get back to sleep. I hope this means I meet my little girl/boy today and not some April Fool's joke my body is playing on me.

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comments:

That's so precious you had a special week with Marlie! The things she says are hilarious and it's so typical of dad to come up with something like, "Princesses use the potty," right? LOL! Sending you healthy labor vibes =)

Good luck with your new little one! I just had my second on Valentines Day and number one had just turned 2 ten days before. We are not doing too great with potty training either, though she is good at informing me AFTER the fact.

I'm loving the way you prioritize quality time with Marlie, Theresa! You're such a wonderful mother, and I know Li'l Chocolate Chip will only further enhance the love, value, and attention you give to yourself by way of loving on your babies.

Oh, and "I made snakes!" is my favorite current Marlie-ism to date--LOL!!!

Oh! Keep us posted! I had so many regular Braxton Hicks contractions with all of my kids, I never if I was labor until I was 7 cm. That wouldn't be a problem if it didn't take me a mere 6 minutes to go from 7 cm to baby born. This is why I had to be induced with babies #3 and #4. Little Miss was supposed to be induced, but she kicked her water open early. I actually thought that having your water break was a great way to start labor. It got me to the hospital in plenty of time to get the antibiotics for Strep B (not sure if they do that still). It also meant, this was it, one way or another, I was having my baby that day. I have to laugh about the princess potty business. In my book, all's fair in love, war, and potty training!

Our strategy is never to take a hard line on stuff like that. If princesses work for you, then awesome! When it's all or nothing, I think, kids get obsessed with things - especially when they get old enough to start seeing them at other people's houses or in stores. Princesses in moderation? Why not?

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